Iraqi Nationalism The Ups and Downs of a Tortured People.

Iraqi NationalismIraqi NationalismThe Ups and Downs of a The Ups and Downs of a

Tortured PeopleTortured People

Welcome to the World!!!Welcome to the World!!!• Though promised

independence for aiding UK in WWI, England occupied Iraq in 1917 (Sykes-Picot Treaty)

• 1920,Iraq organizes armed resistance

–UK losing ground

Self Rule and Unity… or notSelf Rule and Unity… or not• Sunni prince Faisal

elected king of multi-ethnic Iraq- 1921–Immediately,

Kurds in the North and Shiites in the south revolt

–Churchill & Mustard Gas

Hey UK, Let’s be friends!!!Hey UK, Let’s be friends!!!• To help stabilize

from Kurds & Shiites, Faisal invited UK back–Gives UK oil

concessions in 1925 to entice

–Peace!!!

New Instability New Instability • Faisal died in

1933, his son Ghazi in 1939

• During this period, a movement starts for “Pan-Arabism”–A “USA” of the

Middle East

WWII interruptsWWII interrupts• UK needs Iraq to

fight the Axis in North Africa.

–UK leads coup and installs pro-English government

The Post War PeriodThe Post War Period

• Kurds revolt again for independence

• From 1948, joins Arab world in unsuccessfully trying to kill Israel

• Political upheaval, little stability…

Religion and Politics mingled during several wars against the new Israeli state

A series of CoupsA series of Coups• 1958- military coup

by General Karim Kassem. - overthrows 8 year old king. Kills all associated with monarchy

–Claims Kuwait & militarizes Iraq

The Ba’ath PartyThe Ba’ath Party• Abdul Salem Arif

leads Ba’athist coup in 1963.–Becomes Anti-

Western–Tries to reign in

Iran supported Kurds

–Nationalize Oil

Ba’athists want a Sunni, pan-Arab world & strong

Muslim world voice.

Enter Saddam HusseinEnter Saddam Hussein• 1979- coup. Smiles

while condemning 400 fellow Ba’athists to death.

–Living prove loyalty by shooting the 400.

• Kurds revolt at this

–Iran helping Kurds

•Uh oh…

The Iran Iraq War – 80-88The Iran Iraq War – 80-88

• Causes

–Shiite vs. Sunni

–Iran’s support of the Kurds

–Territorial control of the Straights of Hormuz (from Persian Gulf)

Hussein Earns his ReputationHussein Earns his Reputation

• Used poison gas on whole separatist-leaning Kurdish towns

• Children used to clear mine fields

Dead Kurds at Halabja from poison gas

The USA’s involvementThe USA’s involvement

• In the war, USA is Pro-Iraqi

–Iran had taken US embassy workers hostage in 1979 and was still holding them

–Iraq secular

Donald Rumsfeld meeting with

Saddam Hussein in the 1980’s

Expansionist Ba’athist on the MoveExpansionist Ba’athist on the Move

• Ba’athist Iraqis considered Kuwait naturally theirs

• After US support in the 1980’s, thinks he can take Kuwait without problems

Operation Desert StormOperation Desert Storm• Aug 1990 –Iraq

occupies Kuwait

–UN says leave

• Feb. 1991 – US led coalition frees Kuwait

–Highway of Death

Media images of destroyed Iraqi retreat turn Western stomachs, prevent West from marching into Iraq… oops!!!

The 1990’s and IraqThe 1990’s and Iraq• Weapon inspectors

from UN to police

• Oil For Food Program

• 1997- Inspectors kicked out

• Corruption at UN in Iraqi programs

Gulf War IIGulf War II• Post 9/11, Bush

vows to stop rogue nations and terrorism

• Hussein told to open to inspectors

The UltimatumThe Ultimatum• UN resolution 1441

–France, Germany and Russia back down from Resolution

•Corruption????? Secret economic deals for Iraqi oil

US Secretary of State Colin Powell at the UN trying to sway Europe to war

The WarThe War• March, 2003, US

and UK invade Iraq. 28 days long

• June 2004, interim govn’t created

• Jan, 2005 – full elected govn’t

• 2006-new constitution

. April 23, 2006, Iraqi factions agree to PM

Jawad al-Maliki

The InsurgencyThe Insurgency • Immediately after fall of Saddam

–US not greeted by flowers

–NO WMD’s FOUND!!!

• Ex-Ba’athists & “Al-Qaeda in Iraq” under Zarqawi

IED Usage IED Usage (Improvised Explosive Devices)(Improvised Explosive Devices)

The Dictator Gone… what now?The Dictator Gone… what now?• Hanged 12/29/06

• Over 3,000 dead US soldiers as of Jan. ’07

• Intense Shiite-Sunni Violence with torture and ethnic cleansing

A New Plan – Dealing with MilitiasA New Plan – Dealing with Militias• After US midterm

2006 elections, Bush forced towards new plan.

• Bump in US troop presence with focus on controlling sectarian militias

Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr,

leader of Sadr Militia

The FutureThe Future• Can the Sunni triangle

join in the democracy?

• Can the three Iraqs (Sunnis, Shiites & Kurds) unite into one people

• Can we stop theocracy and Civil War?

SHIITE

KURD